Growling softly at her snarky words, Runako started to open his mouth to say something. However, he clamped his mouth shut tightly and let her finish. That last bit surprised him a little. Normally, the woman was full on cynical or aloof- actually, she was usually a mixture of both. Mai giving advice to him though? Well, that was certainly new. He imagined that she thought he was too stupid or narrow to heed anything she said. A week ago, she would have been right.
"Take it easy for a few days, Hazuko. I mean it!" He called after her just as she vanished through the door. Shaking his head, he doubted that she'd heed his words. She never listened to him anyway. Not unless she had to.
He thought to follow inside for a checkup , but that could wait. He needed to inform the Doctor about what had just happened.
~
The Doctor's office was on the floor level above the staff. Yes, he had a whole entire floor to himself which served as a personal living quarters and study. Few people had access to this floor. In fact , Runako and a handful of the medical staff were the only souls permitted on this floor without making an appointment first. The Doctor was a busy man, after all and his work was far too important to be disturbed.
It was late evening when the chief of security approached the man's desk. "Father, I'm sorry to disturb you but I bring ill tidings."
"I've heard that there was a commotion on the third floor," The Doctor replied, not looking up from writing in his book, "Did you kill someone?"
Runako nodded and lowered his head, "Eckhart. I had no choice. He murdered Peter, Tia and would have killed Astrid, Hazuko and myself if we hadn't stopped him. "
The Doctor's thin lips pulled into a frown, "How disappointing. Such a waste of my resources and time, he was. I suppose we'll have to find another suitable candidate for the Seraph program then. Perhaps you have some recommendations to submit? "
Runako hadn't considered this, "I don't know. Right now Astrid is conducting a thorough investigation of the staff. The only person I would trust-" He stopped himself and chuckled softly. "Hates my guts." And hates yours even more. He thought with a shake of his head. "I doubt she'd agree to enlist in the program anyway. "
"Her loss then. Well , I will leave it to you to find a new-" He noted the peculiar look on his adoptive 'son's' face , "What's on your mind?"
Runako looked uncertain at first, " Do you think I'm a failure?"
The Doctor stared at him, "What?"
"Do you think someone else could do my job better?"
"If I did, then you would have been replaced years ago. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. I just needed to hear you say that."
"Are you alright, Runako? Perhaps you should visit the infirmary. You seem...unlike yourself. Anyway, if you have nothing more to report do see yourself out. I've got work to do. "
Runako nodded and replied half-heartedly and turned away, "Sorry. I won't disturb any further. Good evening, father, " and without another word, he left.
~
Three days preceding (ooc: lol oops. He's Dr. Who!) following Eckhart's death, Runako was free from the infirmary's clutches and back in his office, looking through paperwork from Mai, Astrid and other eyewitnesses involved in Eckhart's failed little uprising.
"How do I tell who is lying and who isn't? "
Astrid leaned against the wall ," I could help you with that. Discredit about 90% of male accounts. There you go. "
"Astrid..."
"What? I'm being honest. Most of the men here really are pigs."
"Sometimes I wonder why you volunteered to be Seraph."
"I was younger then and stupid, remember?" She smirked.
"I do. I don't recall you ever being stupid though. "
" What can I say? You're an old man. Your memory is on its way out. "
Runako sighed, " Alright, so we have Peter who tried to kill me because he thought I was a threat to his friends, Hanna and Tia. Hanna supposedly went insane and tried to kill me but Eck killed her. Part of me wonders if -"
"I know what you're going to say and the answer is, yes, she still would have tried to kill you. What happened to Hanna... I don't think that's related to Eckhart. Remember , you sent me to the med labs to retrieve her file. Well, you might find this interesting." She dropped the folder down on his desk.
Runako opened it and flipped through the pages. He looked up at Astrid, confused, "It's clean. Where's my report!?"